Early Warning Signs And Symptoms Of Type 2 Diabetes

Type 2 diabetes affects many individuals, and some people may be unaware of its causes or symptoms. Through this article, we will fully explain to you type 2 diabetes, including the causes, symptoms and the importance of early diagnosis of this disease.

I - What is  type 2 diabetes ? 

 type 2 diabetes is one of the types of diabetes that leads to an increase in the level of glucose in the blood, and it occurs as a result of resistance in the body's cells to the hormone insulin or insufficient amount of insulin produced in the pancreas, as a result of several factors, the most important of which is weight gain and lack of physical activity. It is also called non-insulin dependent diabetes and adult diabetes.

In this type of diabetes, the pancreas produces a normal amount of insulin and may also be more than usual, but it is not sufficient for the body, or there is resistance by the cells to insulin, so it is no longer able to affect it and this enter glucose from the blood to the cells. This causes glucose to build up in the blood and rise in levels.

 

II - What are the causes of type 2 diabetes ?

Type 2 diabetes can be caused by several reasons, including:

* High levels of triglycerides in the blood.

* A diet high in fat and carbohydrates

* Drinking large amounts of alcohol.

* Obesity or being overweight.

* Race: Certain groups, such as African Americans, Native Americans, Hispanic Americans, and Asian Americans, are more likely to develop type 2 diabetes compared to non-Hispanic whites.

* Old age: advancing age is a significant risk factor for developing type 2 diabetes. The risk of developing type 2 diabetes begins to rise significantly around age 45, and increases significantly after age 65.

 III - What are the symptoms of type 2 diabetes ?

In the case of type 2 diabetes, the first symptoms of the disease may be mild, to the point that it is difficult to notice, until a number of long-term health problems begin to appear on the patient.

There are a number of initial symptoms that may appear in the case of developing the type 2 diabetes, including :

1 - Increased thirst :

Excessive thirst, called also Polydipsia, is a hallmark symptom of diabetes, and one of the first signs that you might have diabetes.

This is actually due to the dehydration of your tissues because the high blood glucose level. Your body is pulling fluid from the tissues to try to thin the blood and counteract high glucose, so your tissues will become dehydrated and send a message that you need to drink more. This is also associated with increased urination.

2 - Frequent urination :

Too much glucose in your blood is extremely taxing on the kidneys, which react by iliminating it out of the blood into the urine because they are not up to the job. This results in more urine production and the need to urinate more frequently, and process also flushes out valuable hydrating fluids from your body, often leaving people with diabetes peeing frequently as well as dehydrated.

3 - Always feeling hungry :

Or Polyphagia (medical term), it is one of the well-established signs of diabetes.

Even after you eat, you may still feel so hungry. This is due to your body’s insulin resistance keeps glucose from entering the muscle and providing energy. That is why your muscles aren’t getting the energy they need from the food.

Consequently, the tissues and muscles send a “hunger” message, trying to get more energy into the body.

 4 - Feeling very tired :

Diabetes can cause extreme fatigue with either high or low blood sugar. When the sugar level is high, this indicates that these sugars remain in the bloodstream instead of being used to provide the body with energy, which makes you feel tired. Low blood sugar (glucose) means that you may not have enough fuel for energy, which also causes fatigue.

5 - Blurry vision :

In fact, blurred sight is often one of the first warning signs of duabetes.

When blood suger level is high for a long time, body water is pulled into the lens, causing it to swell and change shape. Those changes make it hard for your eyes to focus, so things start to look fuzzy. But it will take few weeks after getting blood sugar level closer to normal, for the swelling to disappear totally.

6 - Slow healing of cuts and wounds :

Diabetes weakens the immune system, constricts blood vessels, and prevents adequate oxygen from reaching the tissues, causing chronic wounds to the extremities, especially the feet and fingers. This makes the body unable to face the infection and bacteria that cause wounds and sores, which causes narrowing of blood vessels and delays or failure to heal wounds effectively.

7 - Tingling, numbness, or pain in the hands or feet :

Prolonged hyperglycemia weakens the capillary walls, which supply the nerves with nutrients and oxygen.

This leads to impairment of these nerves and interferes with their ability to send nerve signals, which leads to peripheral neuropathy, which results in numbness.

8 - Patches of dark skin :

The patches of dark skin occur when epidermal skin cells begin to reproduce rapidly because of the high level of insulin in the blood.

This patch can form on the back of the neck, armpits, groin and other places, and it can be soft. In some cases one may experience pale skin.

The medical name for this condition is "Acanthosis nigricans" .

9 - Itching and yeast infections :

According to a 2014 study, women with type 2 diabetes may be at an even higher risk of vaginal yeast infection. That's because of the presence of extra sugar, which allow yeast to colonize at unhealthy levels.

Men also can develop a yeast infection in their testicles or penis if they have intercourse with an infected woman , but it’s rare.

10 - Fatigue :

Excessive, chronic and unexplained fatigue can be caused by diabetes. Insulin is a hormone involved in the absorption of glucose, the main source of energy for cells. The cells are deprived of their energy and this explains one of the main symptoms of diabetes: fatigue.

 

IV - What is the importance of early diagnosis ?

A new study by a team of researchers at Wake Forest University in the US found that early detection of diabetes or before its emergence may help reduce the risk of developing cardiovascular diseases, considering that the diagnosis of diabetes should be a wake-up call for people to make changes in their lifestyle to prevent Cardiovascular disease.

The researcher, "Michael B. Banks", a professor at Wake Forest University, said: "We know that having diabetes increases the risk of developing cardiovascular disease, so we wanted in our study to determine what is the absolute risk or likelihood of heart disease for people who had a blood sugar level. They have blood in the pre-disease stage. "

It is indicated that the pre-diabetes stage is when the fasting blood sugar level is between 100 and 125 mg / dL (5.6 to 6.9 mmol / L), while the fasting blood sugar level is less than 100 mg / dL (5.6 mmol / L). / Liter) is normal. Banks said, the level of 126 mg / dL (7 mmol / L) and higher is the diagnostic limit for diabetes.

Finally, it must be noted that type II diabetes cannot be cured completely, but its symptoms can be eliminated for extremely long periods by following the appropriate diet and lifestyle optimized for your condition .. Therefore, as they say, prevention is better than cure.

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